Curiosities

Buffon’s Natural History – 180 Hand Coloured Plates in 31 Volumes – Paris 1827

Oeuvres Completes de Buffon – Mises en order er Precedees d’une Notice Historique Par M.A. Richard Professor Agrege a la Faculte de Medecine de Paris; Suives de Deux Volumes sur les Progress des Sciences Physiques er Naturelles Depuis la mort de Buffon par M. le Baron Cuvier Secretaire Perpetuel de l’Academie Royale des Sciences.

Published by Chez Baudouin Freres and Chez N Delangle Paris in 1827. A full set less volume 8 which is purely narrative – all of the 180 magnificent hand coloured plates are present.

Lavishly bound in full polished tree calf with wide gilt floral design around front and back boards, gilt rolled on board edging, gilt design to spine, with each volume carrying separate black leather title and volume labels themselves gilt styles, marbled endpapers.

Some scuffing and wear to the leather boards and internally occasional foxing and browning and offsetting. On the whole, a handsome set with superior shelf presence – see images – more can be supplied in request – no issue.

Buffon with every hand coloured plate present

$1,590.00

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Diamond River [Venezuela] – Sadio Garavini Di Turno

First published in Italy – this the super English translation published by the Travel Book Club, part of Hamish Hamilton, London in 1963.

Octavo, 208 pages, dusty edges otherwise a very good copy.

An exploration, adventure book with a touch of the “Wild West” but set in the jungles and rivers of Venezuela.

The author one very tough cookie smelled diamonds in and about the remote river known as Liparu by the natives. Encounters with the Taurepan Tribe, Mundo and the beautiful Lolomai. Potent aphrodisiacs are offered and Turno describes the effect and provides the recipe.

Diamonds found and Turno devises his ambitious plan and sets up a mining camp with all the necessaries attracting wayward prospectors under his terms.

May and may not be the way to go about it!

Venezuela adventure with a bag of diamonds to prove it.

$40.00

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Secret Classrooms – An Untold Story of the Cold War – Elliot and Shukman

A fascinating story and one that surprised Voyager who had never heard of the Secret Classrooms – I guess they were “Secret”.

Published by St Ermin’s Press, London in 2002. A first edition hardback, octavo 246, illustrated from relevant period photographs. Slight even toning otherwise an excellent copy in likewise dust jacket.

The British secretly formed the Joint services School of Linguistics [JSSL] which pushed circa 5,000 clever young individuals through intensive training as translators and interpreters to meet the ballooning needs of the Intelligence Services.

The system operated for nine years with “training” camps in Surrey, Cornwall and Scotland. Cambridge University and London University were involved. Students were not only immersed in the language but the Russian way of life, arts, theatre etc.

The diversity of those selected includes a who’s who of to be professors, ambassadors, actors and playwrights – the latter including Dennis Potter and Alan Bennett

Another secret curiosity of the Cold War and fear of Russia.

$35.00

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The Proposed Chemical Laboratory at the University of Sydney -1888 – A Liversidge – Professor of Chemistry

An understandably scarce document and an unusual one – one that appeals very much to Voyager. Sydney University has been without an adequate science laboratory for many years. Liversidge has risen to be Professor of Chemistry and with a strong hand in geology, metallurgical sciences etc.

This extensive paper was presented before the first meeting of the Australian Association for the Advancement of Science, Sydney August 28^th 1888.

Large sized [foolscap plus?] 4 pages of narrative -equivalent of 4 times that against usual and then twelve plates on 5 pages of various designs highlighting the practicalities required in a modern science laboratory. Bound in stout half red morrocco over morrocco? covered boards – later paper title, end papers darkened – whole supported by bound in blanks at rear [the sign of a top binder] – paper support on internal hinge. Very good condition. Stamp of the Royal Society of N.S.W. who strangely disposed such items – shame on them.

Tours had been taken of European and Japanese then modern equivalents and similar standards were to be achieved albeit for budgetary purposes some of the architectural materials had to be more restrained. Having said this the alcoves of the corridor were to have the busts of great European scientists installed. We particularly like the incorporation of the furnaces for metallurgy and the massive outside hydrogen sulphide generator and that quick egress in the event of explosion was thoughtful.

The Sydney University first proper science laboratory – we find it intriguing

$125.00

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19th Century Brass Surveyors Cross – French – Nice Condition

A very good example of an octagonal design surveyors cross in its original shagreen covered tin case.

A Victorian surveying cross, French in style and likely origin. The solid brass body bright, undamaged and not over polished. Comes is in two parts, the neck screws into the inside the head whilst not in use. Sighting threads intact.

Weighs circa 380 gm.

Antique surveyors instrument – measure your boundaries using the triangulation method.

$160.00

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The Lighthouse Cookbook – Shirley Baker

We love – not only the concept of a lighthouse conceived cookbook but the fact it was put together by Shirly BAKER.

Published by Forty Degrees south, Hobart in 2009 for the Friends of Deal Island and Tasman Island – lighthouse devotees.

Spiral bound cookbook style, 163 pages, with the odd lighthouse image and relevant foodie sketches. Interesting “lighthousey” narrative to start.

Our favourites must be mentioned – sweetcorn and crab soup; Bass Strait spinach and feta pie; Konigsberger klopse[look it up] and Melaleuca chicken casserole – oh and Barn Hill baked rabbit etc etc and some nice sweet things.

You don’t need to be in a lighthouse to have a lighthouse dinner party … go for the klopse.

$30.00

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Buffon’s Natural History – 180 Hand Coloured Plates in 31 Volumes – Paris 1827

Diamond River [Venezuela] – Sadio Garavini Di Turno

Secret Classrooms – An Untold Story of the Cold War – Elliot and Shukman

The Proposed Chemical Laboratory at the University of Sydney -1888 – A Liversidge – Professor of Chemistry

19th Century Brass Surveyors Cross – French – Nice Condition

The Lighthouse Cookbook – Shirley Baker

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